Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 03:44:45 PM

Title: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 03:44:45 PM

First off, thieves suck.

Don't even get me started on that.


That said, my insurance company was very fair to me on the value of my Toyota Tacoma and I had a hard time deciding what to get with my settlement check.

I debated for quite some time over what to get.  I thought about a sports car.  I thought about a luxury coupe.  I thought about another, newer truck.

My girlfriend, who I'm planning to propose to btw, sternly told me that this was not the time in my life to be making decisions based on logic and reason and made me get something I've always wanted.


I give you... Frank.   ;D





(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DkLsLjCLd5g/UJ2UY6m6rTI/AAAAAAAABRY/AFRI2IoAxPo/s640/wagon.jpg)




It's a 1959 Willys Station Wagon with a 1951 body.

The engine's a diesel out of a 1985 Mercedes E-class.

I have plenty of money left over after buying it to fix it up and I have a ton of things planned.  Tomorrow I'm installing the new seats I bought for it.



I'll post more pics if anybody's interested.


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: lethe on November 09, 2012, 03:46:30 PM
awesome!   [clap]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Ducatamount on November 09, 2012, 03:55:22 PM
Frank is cool. 
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: ducpainter on November 09, 2012, 03:58:51 PM
Don't let Kent anywhere near it. ;D
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: kopfjäger on November 09, 2012, 03:59:31 PM
 [evil]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: lethe on November 09, 2012, 04:01:11 PM
not leaking gas is it? Fire no bueno
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 04:05:25 PM
Quote from: lethe on November 09, 2012, 04:01:11 PM
not leaking gas is it? Fire no bueno


I hope it's not leaking gas.

It's a diesel.


That was the first time I'd put fuel in it, and that was when I found out I needed to put a vent line on the fuel tank.


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: kopfjäger on November 09, 2012, 04:07:08 PM
Quote from: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 04:05:25 PM

I hope it's not leaking gas.

It's a diesel.



[laugh]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: lethe on November 09, 2012, 04:12:19 PM
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 09, 2012, 04:07:08 PM
[laugh]
ok I deserve that  :(
in my defense I've been ill and my brain isn't quite right yet  [laugh]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 04:24:30 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on November 09, 2012, 03:58:51 PM
Don't let Kent anywhere near it. ;D


Is that a reference to him backing into a house?  Did you know about that?

[laugh]

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: ducpainter on November 09, 2012, 04:36:30 PM
Quote from: lethe on November 09, 2012, 04:12:19 PM
ok I deserve that  :(
in my defense I've been ill and my brain isn't quite right yet  [laugh]
yet?

Quote from: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 04:24:30 PM

Is that a reference to him backing into a house?  Did you know about that?

[laugh]


Not really...just based on generalizations... ;)

Do tell. [laugh]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Rameses on November 09, 2012, 04:43:25 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on November 09, 2012, 04:36:30 PM

Do tell. [laugh]

I'll PM you about that later on when I get a chance. 

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: zooom on November 10, 2012, 05:33:19 AM
congrats on a cool ride!!!
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: TiNi on November 10, 2012, 05:43:27 AM
 [thumbsup] that's a cool project :) your girl sounds like a keeper
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Langanobob on November 10, 2012, 06:11:10 AM
That is a beauty.  A friend had one years ago, with the original funny little 4 cylinder motor, the intake valves were in the head and the exhaust valves were in the block.   He had it for a long time and many interesting miles.  The Diesel must put it into a whole new dimension!
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Rameses on November 10, 2012, 07:14:24 AM


Thanks everybody.   ;D


I'm headed to the shop right now to fabricate a new shifter and some seat brackets.

It's getting heated seats.  :)

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on November 10, 2012, 09:06:06 AM
Mods please close this. We're a porn free forum and Rameses keeps posting photos of his Willy.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: MendoDave on November 10, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
I love it!  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Speedbag on November 11, 2012, 06:49:43 AM
Way cool.  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Scoober1103 on November 11, 2012, 04:24:13 PM
Nice truck, any relation to 'Mater'?  [thumbsup]

Looking forward to updates and mods.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: IZ on November 11, 2012, 05:52:39 PM
 [thumbsup]

Cool! 

Agreed..thieves do suck!
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: yamifixer on November 12, 2012, 09:34:55 AM
Frank is pretty cool.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Duck-Stew on November 12, 2012, 11:29:04 AM
I'm interested to see how the progress goes!  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Oldfisti on November 12, 2012, 01:02:11 PM
Very cool!    8)


[popcorn]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Monsterlover on November 12, 2012, 03:49:31 PM
That thing is badass!
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: sno_duc on November 12, 2012, 11:09:23 PM
Have the brakes been upgraded?
If not make that your first mod.
Old jeeps came with anemic flathead motors with equally anemic drum brakes.
Back in the '80s I carpooled with a gentleman who had a simular jeep, stock brakes, stock steering, and a small block chevy V-8. Up highway 72 in Colorado (Coal Creek Canyon), way up the canyon. Great fun!!

Cool project  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 04:56:11 AM


So over the weekend, I mounted my new seats and wired them up.

Huge improvement over stock.  It makes the ride so much nicer.  And the seat heaters are badass too.   [evil]


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gg3wM9UKGJU/UKMrLhvm2RI/AAAAAAAABR4/2eeX0okJnC4/s512/20121110_121811.jpg)


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uckcg1lp_sc/UKMrMpHKVJI/AAAAAAAABSI/F_ZGe7KdZ4Q/s512/20121110_130921.jpg)


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uckcg1lp_sc/UKMrMpHKVJI/AAAAAAAABSI/F_ZGe7KdZ4Q/s512/20121110_130921.jpg)



Still didn't get my shifter done though.  When I went to fabricate it, I realized I'd forgotten to take part of it with me.   [roll]




Quote from: Dwead Piwate Woberts on November 10, 2012, 09:06:06 AM
Mods please close this. We're a porn free forum and Rameses keeps posting photos of his Willy.


No, that was your buddy Daniel Craig.   :P



Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Ducatamount on November 14, 2012, 05:40:37 AM
Were you talking the back seats or did you forget the finished product pic?  ;D
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: lethe on November 14, 2012, 05:47:56 AM
Invisible seats FTW!  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: ducpainter on November 14, 2012, 09:28:04 AM
The King has no clothes seats.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 10:32:20 AM
The first pic *is* his new seats.

You should have seen the ones he took out.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 01:55:03 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 10:32:20 AM
The first pic *is* his new seats.

You should have seen the ones he took out.


[laugh] [laugh]

Yeah, my copy pasta skills were lacking early this morning. That third pic was supposed to be the new ones.

Lemme see if I can find the url and post it from my phone...
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 02:12:28 PM


Nope.

I'll post it when I get home.

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 03:39:57 PM


Here we go.

New seats.



(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ok--3gg9K2U/UKMrLnoSocI/AAAAAAAABR8/mMoPJKg_muU/s512/20121111_104841.jpg)

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Monsterlover on November 14, 2012, 03:54:24 PM
GM seats from an LT pickup :D

I have those in my truck, they're nice [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 04:25:21 PM
Quote from: Monsterlover on November 14, 2012, 03:54:24 PM
GM seats from an LT pickup :D

I have those in my truck, they're nice [thumbsup]


I got 'em out of an '06 Trailblazer.

Picked up the third row seats to use as a bench in the back of the Willys too.  Not in a huge rush to put that in though, as that's going to take quite a bit more thinking to figure out the best way to mount them.

Got all of the seats and the electric seat bases and everything for $175!   ;D

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Monsterlover on November 14, 2012, 04:47:40 PM
Holy cow that's a smokin deal :o
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 04:57:27 PM
Quote from: Monsterlover on November 14, 2012, 04:47:40 PM
Holy cow that's a smokin deal :o


[beer]


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 05:31:53 PM
You realize you've set the bar pretty high for the rest of the truck now, eh?

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck...
Post by: MendoDave on November 14, 2012, 07:37:34 PM
Quote from: Rameses on November 14, 2012, 04:56:11 AM

So over the weekend, I mounted my new seats and wired them up.

Huge improvement over stock.  It makes the ride so much nicer.  And the seat heaters are badass too.   [evil]


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gg3wM9UKGJU/UKMrLhvm2RI/AAAAAAAABR4/2eeX0okJnC4/s512/20121110_121811.jpg)


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uckcg1lp_sc/UKMrMpHKVJI/AAAAAAAABSI/F_ZGe7KdZ4Q/s512/20121110_130921.jpg)


(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uckcg1lp_sc/UKMrMpHKVJI/AAAAAAAABSI/F_ZGe7KdZ4Q/s512/20121110_130921.jpg)



Still didn't get my shifter done though.  When I went to fabricate it, I realized I'd forgotten to take part of it with me.   [roll]





No, that was your buddy Daniel Craig.   :P





That looks an awful lot like an electric heater built into the sidewall just behind the front seats.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 15, 2012, 04:41:01 AM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 05:31:53 PM
You realize you've set the bar pretty high for the rest of the truck now, eh?




Yep.   ;D



Quote from: Mendo Dave on November 14, 2012, 07:37:34 PM
That looks an awful lot like an electric heater built into the sidewall just behind the front seats.


Not electric.

There're coolant lines that run back to it and it has a heater core in it.  Those rear heaters for the Willys Wagons are super rare.  I got lucky.

:)


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: MendoDave on November 15, 2012, 05:28:59 AM
Gm should take a lesson from that. I had to remove the entire dash to replace the heater core on my Jimmy. With that Willis design its right there.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 16, 2012, 05:16:48 PM


My "new" plate got here in the mail today...



(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iQxgPV7K4cE/UKbk0X0HfhI/AAAAAAAABSk/6Il7jFTeLXw/s640/59plate.jpg)


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Speeddog on November 16, 2012, 05:40:18 PM
Please tell me that's not the only light on the rear end of that rig....  :-X
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: ducpainter on November 16, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 16, 2012, 05:40:18 PM
Please tell me that's not the only light on the rear end of that rig....  :-X
Don't be afraid...
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 16, 2012, 06:06:34 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 16, 2012, 05:40:18 PM
Please tell me that's not the only light on the rear end of that rig....  :-X


No, there's another one just like it on the right side.

Only minus the plate illumination window on the bottom of the housing.


Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Speeddog on November 16, 2012, 06:24:07 PM
Oh, well, then you're good as gold.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: kopfjäger on November 17, 2012, 06:46:40 PM
(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/4d653dcb2ff117c9bb527b746b22413c.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/68ad18fff424d21a9096e5063637e868.jpg)
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: MendoDave on November 18, 2012, 08:06:50 AM
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 17, 2012, 06:46:40 PM
(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/4d653dcb2ff117c9bb527b746b22413c.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/68ad18fff424d21a9096e5063637e868.jpg)

Wow!
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: militar3rd on November 18, 2012, 06:37:01 PM
 [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: the_Journeyman on November 19, 2012, 01:44:16 PM
Quote from: Rameses on November 16, 2012, 05:16:48 PM

My "new" plate got here in the mail today...



(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iQxgPV7K4cE/UKbk0X0HfhI/AAAAAAAABSk/6Il7jFTeLXw/s640/59plate.jpg)


Nice!  If I keep my 280, I'd love vintage plates.  That aside, I didn't realize you were in NC!

JM
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 19, 2012, 08:50:00 PM
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 17, 2012, 06:46:40 PM
(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/4d653dcb2ff117c9bb527b746b22413c.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/68ad18fff424d21a9096e5063637e868.jpg)


Very nice.

I just ordered those mirrors for mine several days ago.  Can't wait for them to get here.




Quote from: the_Journeyman on November 19, 2012, 01:44:16 PM
Nice!  If I keep my 280, I'd love vintage plates.  That aside, I didn't realize you were in NC!

JM


Yep.  I'm in Raleigh.

I never realized it until I bought this thing, but you don't have to do anything special to run old plates in NC.

As long as you have your valid license plate in the vehicle with you in case you get pulled over, you can run a plate from any state as long as the year on the plate matches the year on your vehicle's registration.

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Speedbag on November 20, 2012, 04:08:05 AM
Quote from: Rameses on November 19, 2012, 08:50:00 PM

I never realized it until I bought this thing, but you don't have to do anything special to run old plates in NC.

As long as you have your valid license plate in the vehicle with you in case you get pulled over, you can run a plate from any state as long as the year on the plate matches the year on your vehicle's registration.


[thumbsup]

Kinda the same situation in MN. So, if anyone has a pair of 1967 Minnesota plates laying around, I'm interested......
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Oldfisti on November 20, 2012, 12:23:02 PM
New York allows it but it you actually register the vintage plate to your vehicle.  It must be a NYS plate as well.
Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on November 20, 2012, 01:55:13 PM
Quote from: Speedbag on November 20, 2012, 04:08:05 AM
[thumbsup]

Kinda the same situation in MN. So, if anyone has a pair of 1967 Minnesota plates laying around, I'm interested......


Evidently in Minnesota the last year they made plates with the year on them was 65.

But there're 2 sets on eBay right now with 1967 renewal tabs on them.

Under 20 bucks with shipping.   [thumbsup]

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Rameses on March 10, 2013, 07:43:27 PM


The fiancee and I went to a car show here in Raleigh today.

I bought a complete A/C kit for the wagon.  ;D



Now I just have to get new gauges and I'm ready to weld fillers in all of the gauge holes and redo the layout of my dash to incorporate the new gauges, A/C controls and vents, and radio deck.

[evil]

Title: Re: Replaced my stolen truck... (Willys Wagon project)
Post by: Monsterlover on March 10, 2013, 07:44:33 PM
Yes!